Ribera del Guadiana

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Ribera de Guadiana wine region

The Ribera del Guadiana wine-growing region ( Denominación de Origen ( DO ) ) extends over parts of the provinces of Badajoz and Cáceres ; these belong to the Spanish autonomous community of Extremadura in the southwest of the country near the border with Portugal . It was named after the Guadiana river , which flows through the Extremadura or the wine-growing region in a westerly direction.

history

According to the first regulations from 1997, the Denominación de Origen Ribera del Guadiana was formed in April 1999 from 6 former country wine areas ( Vino de la Tierra ), which still exist today as sub-zones. In the northern province of Cáceres in the Sierra de Guadelupe and its foothills, these are the subzones Cañamero with 5 municipalities and Montánchez (27 municipalities). To the south and east of the Guadiana in the province of Badajoz, the subzones Matanegra (8 municipalities), Ribera Alta de Guadiana (38 municipalities), Ribera Baja de Guadiana (11 municipalities) and Tierra de Barros (36 municipalities) were defined.

The recognition of the DO Protected Designation of Origin is due to the efforts of some wineries in the Tierra de Barros sub-zone ; With the largest cultivation area, this is the most important sub-zone and had temporarily DO status as early as 1979.

climate

The climate does not differ significantly within the sub-zones, some of which are quite far apart. It is continental with Atlantic influences and brings hot, dry summers and not too cold winters. Precipitation of around 450 to 500 mm / year (in the higher, northern subzones Cañamero and Montánchez with 500 to 800 mm / year also above) and the Guadiana ensure sufficient water.

Floors

The soils of the subzones Cañamero and Montánchez in the north are rather barren and stony (slate). The subzones of the province of Badajoz (especially Tierra de Barros ) offer fertile alluvial soils in the river valleys of the Guadiana and its tributaries . Sandy soils are predominant in the Ribera Alta sub-zone in the east of the Badajoz province.

Wines

A relatively large number of grape varieties are permitted for the production of wines according to the classification :

In the two sub-zones of the province of Cáceres, white wine is more likely to be produced. Red wine ( Tempranillo ) dominates the subzones to the south (especially Tierra de Barros ).

In the sub-zones, the main use of the following grapes is prescribed:

  • Ribera Alta: Chelva, Pedro Ximénez, Alarije, Borba, Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Cayetana Blanca
  • Tierra de Barros: Cayetana Blanca, Pardina, Viura, Montua, Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo
  • Matanegra: Cayetana Blanca, Eva, Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo
  • Ribera Baja: Cayetana Blanca, Pardina, Viura, Montua, Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo
  • Montánchez: Borba, Pedro Ximénez, Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Malvar
  • Cañamero: Alarije, Verdejo, Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo

The alcohol content of white wines (Blancos) and rosé wines (Rosados) must be at least 10 % by volume; Red wines (tintos) must have at least 11% vol.

See also

literature

  • John Radford: The New Spain. A complete guide to contemporary Spanish Wine. Mitchell Beazley, London 1998, ISBN 1-85732-254-1 .
  • John Radford: Wine Landscape Spain. Tradition and departure. Hallwag, Bern et al. 1999, ISBN 3-444-10553-3 .

Web links